Search

Pirate Perch

Aphredoderidae (pirate perches) in the order Percopsiformes (trout-perch and allies)

Description:

Small size, grayish color heavily speckled with black, single dorsal fin, no adipose fin, body rough to touch, tail fin slightly notched, but without fork. In Missouri, only pirate perch and cavefishes have anus located far forward on body in the throat area. Most closely related to cavefishes and trout-perch.

Size:

Total length: 3 to 5 inches.

Habitat and conservation:

Bottomland lakes, overflow ponds, and quiet pools and backwaters of slow-moving streams and ditches. Inhabits areas with abundant cover consisting of aquatic plants or organic debris and no current. Most active at dawn and dusk.

Foods:

Carnivorous, feeding on aquatic insects, small crustaceans and small fish.

Distribution in Missouri:

Occurs in Missouri's southeastern lowlands and adjacent parts of the Ozarks. Also in a few locations along the Mississippi River.

Life cycle:

Lifespan is about 4 years. Having the anus located far forward is an adaptation to allow for the easy transfer of eggs from the anus to the mouth. It is believed the eggs are incubated in the female pirate perch’s gill cavities.

Other Content You May Like

The logperch is found in deep riffles and silt-free pools in small- to medium-sized rivers along wind-swept gravel shorelines in reservoirs. Readily separated from other Missouri darters by having the mouth overhung by the distinctly conical snout, as well as the color pattern of 15-20 vertical dark bars on a light background.

This peculiar little fish is our only fish with both an adipose fin and rough-edged scales, characteristics of trout and perch, respectively—thus the name "trout-perch." This fish represents a family that was formerly much larger but that is now mostly extinct. Only two species of trout-perches are known to live worldwide—and ours is declining.

This relative of the walleye is also called the Jack salmon, spotted Jack and sand pike. It's found mostly in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and suitable tributaries, as well as the Eleven Point River in southern Missouri, mainly in flowing water and often swift current.

Walleye fishing in Missouri is heating up, as the Missouri Department of Conservation has been stocking this popular game fish in lakes and reservoirs that can best support it. Stockton, Lake of the Ozarks, Bull Shoals and numerous other reservoirs should soon have an impressive walleye fishery.

Regs and Areas

Shortened URL

Permalink for this page:
http://mdc.mo.gov/node/4830

Serving Nature and You

MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources. We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature. Read more about our mission.